New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-28

upon condition OF his having certain number OF pupils
provided him instruct in the italian language Where
upon
csoued That 1t inexpedent to accept OF the propo-
sitlon OF S!gnore Da Ponte.
These are the only instances In which Ia ronte
name appears in the minutes OF Columbia Colege'
From the volume added to iIs memoirs In 1881 inc
meaning of the last entry may be learned de was
q professor without pupils salary. His proposition
to give two lessons for forty weeks to 100 stu
dents each to pay 1b for the eighty then
to present 1000 volumes to the College.
The years from 1907 to 1911 and from 1913 to
1926 were evidently the only happy in Da Pontes
American life. Some OF his pupils went to live with him
at mis- summer home to continue their studies. Among
them was Henry James Anderson, who became pro-
lessor OF mathematics and astronomy in ColuToia
College in 1925 and who married Ds Pontc's daugh-
ter. DIR. Anderson remained professor until 1895,
became a convert to Romanism. and died in 1879 at
Lahore. India, whittier he had gone scientific CON-
mission. His wife died about 1862 or 1858 in Paris
while returning with her husband from Rome. Size Is
buried in Pere la Chsise. DR.. Anderson was but
married aud left only two children, Edward
Henry and Ebert Elery. Thetormsr died ia 1879,
and f. Eery Anderson, Democratic politician, law
yef and by the grace of President Cleveland Pacific
Railroad Commissioner. is the only descendant OF
Lorenzo Da Ponte.
The last ten years of his life were both Frightened
aud couded by his efforts introduce Italian opera
in America When GaIcia came in November, 1928,
with Italian troupe including his daughter after
ward Mabran, Da Ponte among his earliest vist-
The story Of their meeting Is a familiar one.
Da Ponie introduced himself to the singer as rhe
author of Don Giovanni {" my Don Giovanni he
vas fond of sayingl and Garcia claspiug him In his
arms, danced about the like child, singing Fun
CHI han DIAL vino" Naturally " Don Giovanni" was
given in the first season, though Da Ponte and his
friends and pupils" had to pay extra singer in
o-Ia Lo,a non vio fafa
associated himself with Ryahnoli in operate man.
agemen. and even succeeded in persut ding some
wealthy citizens to bnIld an opera house at Church
and Leonard sts The operate ventures were disas-
trous. Hs wrote and published two pamphlets about
the Montrcssor in 1892 and in 1885 appended
to complaint of his recent sunerings letter 10
VIII ia he denounced Rivanol accused the puclic OF
iugratude toward himself, and urged that the thea
tire be leased to one Rocco Da Ponte went with all
his troubles straight to the public through the med
aion of the printing press, and it makes somewhat
dvertng effect in spite of his obyions seriousness to
read OF page of his pamphlet almost hysterica
prayer the stockholders OF the opera house TO listen
to his advice and take the word OF an old man whose
lips have uttered untruth, ana on the next
o warning to his debtors threatening to sell Their
notes at public auction and tell the circumstances
under which they were offered and received" unless
they we're paid before given day. When he records
his failure to change tho oystem OF instruction az
Columbis be does cLceriully enough. He tells In
opened a bookstore in front of which he could see
all da, long the most beautiful women in the world
step out of their carriages They were pent on tue
purchase candies and cakes in the ADJOINING shop
Then ho tells how the temptation had seized him TO
put up q sign in MS window: Candies and Italian
cakes sold herer II by such trick somebody shall be
tempted into his store, them he says will bring
forth Pelrarch some other OF our poets ana VIII
ouch that they are all candies tor those
WI o have teeth to masticae tbem." But he did not
always take cheerful view OF te IL Is PLAIN from
all his writings that he considered himself not appre
Grated at his true worth. He thought himself genius
and since the people would not discover that fact OF
heir volition he kept asseSerang 1t In his writ
ings Toward the OF his life the tact that he was
10 danger of dying neglected seems to have wet2nea
greatly on his mind. In letter printed In his me-
moirs trend, evidently &C. Moore, takes him to task
Tor it. Says the letter writer 4" 1t seems to
me that yoa little too anNocs In
regard 70 the memory that you Wish TO leave
behind you. For all that have already done tor
the love OF ths Italian language and literature the
name OF Oa Ponte clarum CT venerable nomeD,' viii
DO kept in great yeneracn so long there remains
In this country taste tor elegant letters, and the
youth of both will look back ia tho decline OF
lite to the hours passed in pleasant and instructive
couver sation with their ustrious and elegant
| teacher rs to the most brilliant moments OF their
existence This Is enough. DO not seek like Bona
partc, to conquer for yourself all the glory OF the
world.' few more extracts from the publications
OF his latter DAYS evnce the same spirit In letter
set IA O preface to a pamphlet which he calls
A" EroGtola Per far ridere," In 1888, La says
a." Eighteen months are passed since l hod Sit gle
pupil l. the creator OF the Italian language In
America, the teacher OF more than ZOop persons
whose progress astounded Italy! l! the poet OF
Joseph H. the author Of thirtysix dramas; the IN
spiraton OF saerl, of wcigh OF Martini OF Winter
aud OF MOZART! After twenty-seven years OF hard
labor have no longer u pupil! Nearly ninety years
old rhaye no more bread In Amerioa" In a similar
,one he writes To- friend in Italy II fate bad led
me to France instead OF America would not now
tear that my remains might become food for dogs; L
would have earned enough money to secure rest for
my cd body in the grave and preserve mY fame
against total oblivion" In 1885 too no published
storia Americana. ossa II Lameutc' 1t is poets
lament, portion OF which he himself TRANSLATED
beginning:
"Yet 10 the hand which has those treasures given,
Ye have refused the cypbals and the Tyre
And from hi. brow .he laurel crown have r!ven.
Whose name has set the proudcst stage on IRE.
In the English preface this poem he relates that
no had determined to return TO Italy to die whom
dssuaded By the receipt OK letter from an admrhg
beuetaco or inclosng 500. He concludes as follows
q remain. will try 10 DO known through the tcst'-
| mony OF persons worthy OF belief. one sucn
citizen emo bles any place New-York may boast OF
! many suoh-aiih her will leave my ashes. AS
| have given to her thirty years OF my life Perhaps
those ashes will receive. even from the Ill disposed
and the uncrateful 'Vano conforto di tardi sospir
| Da poute died OF old age on August H. 1888, at y
D. NJ at his home No. OIL Springst Dr. j. W.
Francis attended him and to him the poet day
before hi, DEATH his leading passion inextinguish
| able addressed O sonnet Alegrrs Miserere WAS
sung at hs funeral and, say eye-witnesses. he was
| bnred In the Roman Cemetery IN Second ave-
| Between second-ave. and First ut that time there
| were no buildings Gulisn {. Verplanck AID Dr.
| Macneyen were among his palbearers. The Italians
| of the city resolved TO rear u monoment over DIS
| n aptar AZ ma htfrla
| unmarked aud unknown, like the grave OF Mozart.
| H.. Y. X.
/
MEDICAL EUHOR.
| From Texds sVt'nga